Electric bomb-rack control handle



March 4, 1924. 1,485,762

' C. BROWN ELECTRIC some RACK CONTROL HANDLE Filed March 9, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 l6 ./V... JV LH JV fig WW W March 4, 1924. 1,485,762

G. c. BROWN ELECTRIC BOMB RACK CONTROL HANDLE Filed March 9, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 4%, 1924.

' JD S T 'l GARNET 0. BROWN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC BOMB-RACK CONTROL HANDLE;

Application filed March 9, 1222. Serial No. 542,417.

To all whom it may concern,-

Be it known that l, GARNET C. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residin at Detroit, in the county of ll ayne and tate of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Bomb- Rack Control Handles of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to control mechanism for releasing bombs of any type from a bomb rack in which a relatively large number of bombs are carried and in which the bomb rack is operated by an electrical solenoid. By means of the present invent-ion the bombs may be dropped in specified numbers one or more'at a time, either safe or armed, or all the bombs may be dropped in rapid succession by a single movement of the hand of the bomber.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the control mechanism.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof partly in section.

Figure 3 is an end elevation thereof showing the salvo handle or lever.

Figure l is an elevation looking toward the opposite end of the device showing the train lever or handle.

Figure 5 is a section on the line DD of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a cross section on the line CC of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a cross section taken in line with the safety switch arm and safety switch dog.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevation showing the locking lever.

Referring to the drawings, which how a control device for a bomb rack holding IlOI'z mally not more than twenty bombs in four rows, five deep, 1 designates the housing of the control mechanism in which is mounted a rotatable drum 2, the shaft of which is journaled in suitable bearings in the housing as shown. Extending around and projecting from the outer surface of the drum 15 a spiral series of cam lobes 8 spaced equally from each other, the spiral series of lobes extending entirely around the drum so that in a single revolution of the drum all. of said lobes will be brought into effective positions.

Arranged above the drum as shown in Figure 6 is a row of contact springs a, and there is one of such springs for each cam lobe 3 on the drum. Each spring loperates a contact 5 and closes the circuit of a battery through the solenoid (not shown) of the bomb rack. As the drum 2 rotates, the cam lobes 3 make contact at the points 5 and as each contact lobe strikes the contact spring, the circuit is closed and a bomb is released. The rotation of the drum is accomplished by either of two levers, a salvo lever 6 or a train lever 7. When the salvo lever is pulled, a rack or sector 6 on said lever impart-s rotary motion to a pinion 6- upon the end of the drum 2, and gives the drum one complete revolution thus operating all of the contact springs and dropping all of the bombs in the bomb rack in rapid succession. When the train lever is operated a pawl or dog 8 on said lever catches in a notch of a ratchet wheel 9 on the drum and rotates the latter one or more notches according to the degree of movement of the train lever which is under'the control of the operator.

A star wheel 10 upon one end of the drum has working in conjunction therewith a roller arm 11 carrying at its free end a roller 11. As each bomb is dropped, the roller must pass over one tooth and into contact with the next; tooth. A spring 11" engages the roller arm 11 and holds the roller tightly down between the teeth of the star wheel. When the roller is so positioned between the teeth of the star wheel, the con tact spring l is retained between two cam lobes so that it is impossible to allow the drum to stop while contact is made and the circuit closed.

On one end of the drum are indicia or numbers indicated at 12 which correctly show the number of bombs in the bomb rack at any instant. The numbers 12 are displayed through an observation opening 12 in the housing. On one end of the housing is a locking lever 13 which controls a looking plunger 1 L arranged to fit into an annular series of holes 15 in one end of the drum when the locking lever is operated. The function of this lever and plunger is to prevent the drum from rotating. Upon the same end of the housing is a safe dropping push. button 16 by which the bombs in the rack may be dropped safe or unarmed. In this connection it may be explained that the safety Wires of the bombs are ordinarily held by a clamping device controlled by an electric circuit so that the clamping device may be rendered operative or inoperative according as to whether the bombs are to be dropped safe or armed. Such circuit is controlled by the button 16 which controls the safety solenoid on the bomb rack.

After the drum has made a complete revolution it is returned to its normal position by lifting up the safety switch knob 17. Lifting up said knob disengages the safety switch dog 18 and the switch arm 18 thus permitting the drum to be rotated back to its original position by the operation of the salvo lever 6. Extending across the top of the drum housing is a connector strip 19 which connects the contact points 5 with the electrical system running to the bomb rack. 'In case different types of bombs are carried in the bomb rack a different connector strip will be used for each combination. Such connector strip is a switch board which carries the current from the contact points to the proper bomb rack operating solenoids in the bomb rack.

What I claim is:

1. An electric bomb rack control mechanism, embodying a drum having a spiral series of cam lobes, circuit-closing contact members arranged to be operated successively by said cam lobes as the drum is rotated, a train handle for turning said drum with a step by step movement, and a salvo handle for effecting a'complete revolution of the drum.

2. An electric bomb rack control mecha nism, embodying a drum having -a spiral series of cam lobes, circuit-closing contact members arranged to be operated successively by said cam lobes as the drum is rotated, means for rotating said drum with a step by step movement, and means for effecting a complete revolution of said drum.

3. An electric bomb rack control mechanism, embodying a drum having a spiral series of cam lobes, circuit-closing contact members arranged to be operated successively by said cam lobes as the drum is rotated, a train handle for turning said drum with a step by step movement, and a salvo handle for effecting a complete revolution of said drum, said train handle having a pawl and ratchet connection with said drum.

4. An electric bomb rack control mechanism, embodying a drum having a spiral series of cam lobes, circuit-closing contact members arranged to be operated successively by said cam lobes as the drum is rotated, a train handle for turning said drum with a step by step movement, and a salvo handle for effecting a complete revolution of said drum, said salvo handle having a sector and pinion connection with said drum.

5. An electric bomb rack control mechanism, embodying a drum having a spiral series of cam lobes, circuit-closing contact members arranged to be operated successively by said cam lobes as the drum is rotated, a train handle for turning said drum with a step by step movement, and a salvo handle for effecting a complete revolution of said drum, said train handle having a pawl and ratchet connection with said drum, said salvo handle having a sector and pinion connection with said drum.

6. An electric bomb rack control mechanism, embodying a drum having a spiral series of cam lobes, circuit-closing contact members arranged to be operated successively by said cam lobes as the drum is rotated, a train handle for turning said drum with a step by step movement, and a salvo handle for effecting a complete revolution of said drum, said train handle having a pawl and ratchet connection with said drum, said salvo handle having a sector and pinion connection with said'drum, and mechanical means for positively locking said drum against rotation.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

GARNET 0. BROWN. 

